AROUND THE WORLD.

Abduction of singer's 2 sisters suspected

September 25, 2002|By Items compiled from Tribune news services.

MEXICO CITY, MEXICO — Two sisters of Mexican singer Thalia have disappeared in what police believe was a kidnapping, although the family has refused to get the police involved in apparent fear for the women's lives.

Laura Zapata, a TV and stage actress, and Ernestina Sodi disappeared Sunday. Police found their cars abandoned in the capital. Family and business representatives of Thalia declined comment.

Kidnappings are common in Mexico. But wealthy families facing a ransom demand rarely report kidnappings to police because the kidnappers threaten to kill the victim, and because criminal gangs often have police accomplices.

Batiz said that police believe the disappearance was carried out by a well-organized criminal operation of at least four people.